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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Preparation of Agar Bead Embedded Mycobacterium abscessus to Inoculate Immunocompetent Mice Intratracheally
Published on: April 25, 2025
Microbiological persistence in patients with Mycobacterium abscessus complex lung disease: The prevalence,
Ling-Kai Chang1, Ping-Huai Wang2, Tai-Fen Lee3
1Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch BioMedical Park Hospital, Zhubei City, Taiwan; College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Objectives:
Persistent growth of Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) in the respiratory system is not uncommon and may indicate continuous infection of MABC lung disease (MABC-LD), but its prevalence, risk factors, and clinical impact have not been investigated.
Methods:
The present study was conducted in two medical centers in northern Taiwan. We enrolled patients with MABC-LD and investigated the prevalence and predictors of persistent culture positivity (MABC-PP). Furthermore, we analyzed the association between MABC-PP and radiographic or clinical progression.
Results:
Among 189 patients with MABC-LD, 58 were in the MABC-PP group. Independent predictors for MABC-PP included an increasing radiographic score and highest acid-fast stain (AFS) of strong positivity (3-4+) at initial diagnosis (compared with negative AFS). MABC-PP and highest AFS were independently associated with MABC-LD progression by the multivariable analysis model. The adjusted hazard ratio increased to 3.56 when the two independent factors existed.
Conclusions:
MABC-PP accounted for 30.7% and was predicted by initial AFS grade and radiographic score. Patients with MABC-PP, and highest AFS grade might have disease progression.
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